Transforming Middle Schools:Transforming Middle Schools:

Successful Schools in Action Successful Schools in Action

Patti KinneyPatti KinneyNMSA President-ElectNMSA President-Elect

Talent Middle SchoolTalent Middle School

PO Box 359/102 Christian Ave.PO Box 359/102 Christian Ave.

Talent, OR 97540Talent, OR 97540

541-535-1552541-535-1552

patti.kinney@phoenix.k12.or.uspatti.kinney@phoenix.k12.or.us

Turning Points 2000Turning Points 2000

Educating Adolescents Educating Adolescents in the 21st Centuryin the 21st Century

Anthony JacksonAnthony Jackson

Gayle DavisGayle Davis

Teachers College PressTeachers College Press

Teach a Curriculum Grounded in Standards, Relevant to

Adolescents’ Concerns, and Based on How Students Learn

Best, and Use a Mix of Assessment Methods.

Use Instructional Methods That Prepare All

Students to Achieve High Standards

Involve Parents and Communities in Supporting

Student Learning and Healthy Development

Staff Middle Grades Schools with Teachers Who Are Expert at

Teaching Young Adolescents, and Engage Teachers in Ongoing,

Targeted Professional Development

Provide a Safe and Healthy School Environment

Organize Relationships for

Learning

Govern Democratically, Involving All School Staff

Members

Ensure Success for EVERY Student

“Together, the seven recommendations form a system, an interacting and interdependent group of practices that form a unified whole. Each recommendation, or element, within this

system influences the expression and reinforces the impact of other elements.” (TP 2000 pg. 27)

This We BelieveThis We Believe

Successful Schools for Successful Schools for Young AdolescentsYoung Adolescents

National Middle School Association

2003

This We Believe: Successful Schools

for Young Adolescents

Characterized by a Culture that includes:

Educators who value working with this age group and are prepared to do so

A shared vision that guides decisions

High Expectations for every member of the learning community

An adult advocate for every student

School-initiated family and community partnerships

An inviting, supportive, and safe environment

Provide Students with:

A curriculum that is relevant, challenging, integrative, and exploratory

Multiple learning and teaching approaches that respond to their diversity

Assessment and evaluation programs that promote quality learning

Organizational structures that support meaningful relationships and learning

School-wide efforts and policies that foster health, wellness, and safety

Multifaceted guidance and support services

Courageous,collaborative leadership

Students and teachers engaged in active

learning

For middle schools to be successful, their students must be successful, for students to be successful, the school’s organization, curriculum, pedagogy, and programs must be based upon the developmental readiness, needs, and interests of young adolescents. (TWB pg. 1)

Are BalancedAre Balanced

RigorRigor

RelevanceRelevance

RelationshipsRelationships

Successful Successful Schools in ActionSchools in Action

Successful Schools in Successful Schools in Action Action

Are Based on the Developmental Needs of Young Adolescents.

IntellectuallyIntellectually

Middle school students have unique developmental Middle school students have unique developmental characteristics that distinguish them from both characteristics that distinguish them from both elementary and high school students?elementary and high school students?

Young adolescents learn best in cooperative, flexible Young adolescents learn best in cooperative, flexible settings where they are constantly interacting with settings where they are constantly interacting with materials and with each other?materials and with each other?

Learning takes time?Learning takes time?

In developing lessons, instructional In developing lessons, instructional strategies, materials, schedules, and strategies, materials, schedules, and assessments do your teachers realize…assessments do your teachers realize…

PhysicallyPhysically

Have a comprehensive health and physical fitness Have a comprehensive health and physical fitness program that is designed for their abilities and program that is designed for their abilities and capabilities?capabilities?

Give all students opportunities to experience physical Give all students opportunities to experience physical success?success?

Vary the pace of lessons and allow for movement?Vary the pace of lessons and allow for movement? Help your students understand young adolescent Help your students understand young adolescent

development?development?

Does your school…Does your school…

EmotionallyEmotionally

Understand and appreciate the uniqueness of this Understand and appreciate the uniqueness of this age group?age group?

Serve as honest, available role models?Serve as honest, available role models? Practice active, attentive listening?Practice active, attentive listening? Avoid the use of sarcasm?Avoid the use of sarcasm? Help their students feel skilled and competent?Help their students feel skilled and competent?

Does your staff…Does your staff…

SociallySocially

Provide school-based social activities?Provide school-based social activities? Help students feel accepted by both their peers and Help students feel accepted by both their peers and

adults?adults? Allow students to work in groups and learn from one Allow students to work in groups and learn from one

another?another? Provide opportunities for students to work and interact Provide opportunities for students to work and interact

within diverse groups?within diverse groups? Give students opportunities to be involved in their Give students opportunities to be involved in their

community?community?

Does your school…Does your school…

Questions for ReflectionQuestions for Reflection

Does our school provide our young adolescents Does our school provide our young adolescents ample opportunities to participate meaningfully ample opportunities to participate meaningfully in the life of the school - both in classrooms and in the life of the school - both in classrooms and school-wide?school-wide?

Are students given opportunities to identify and Are students given opportunities to identify and develop their special interests and aptitudes as develop their special interests and aptitudes as called for by their exploratory nature?called for by their exploratory nature?

Does the curriculum recognize the diversity in Does the curriculum recognize the diversity in maturity and development shown by young maturity and development shown by young adolescents?adolescents?

Successful Schools in Successful Schools in ActionAction

ProvideProvide

Courageous, Courageous, Collaborative,Collaborative,

LeadershipLeadership

Key ComponentsKey ComponentsPossess a clear vision of middle school education based upon Possess a clear vision of middle school education based upon a true understanding of the needs of young adolescentsa true understanding of the needs of young adolescentsCreate a shared visionCreate a shared visionEngage all stakeholders (staff, parents, students, community, Engage all stakeholders (staff, parents, students, community, district office, school board) in a process of shared decision district office, school board) in a process of shared decision making with a goal of continual improvement.making with a goal of continual improvement.Ultimate goal is school improvement - what’s best for students Ultimate goal is school improvement - what’s best for students must be at the center of decisionsmust be at the center of decisionsOpen and honest communicationOpen and honest communicationProductive discussion and debate on practices is welcomed Productive discussion and debate on practices is welcomed and encouragedand encouragedBuilds the capacity for leadership in othersBuilds the capacity for leadership in othersDevelop, implement, and continually assess a school program Develop, implement, and continually assess a school program that creates an effective learning environment for young that creates an effective learning environment for young adolescentsadolescents

Questions for ReflectionQuestions for Reflection

Is there a recent, well understood, fully accepted, Is there a recent, well understood, fully accepted, and specific enough school philosophy and mission and specific enough school philosophy and mission statement that functions as a guide in making every statement that functions as a guide in making every decision about the school - curricular as well as decision about the school - curricular as well as procedural?procedural?

Is leadership diversified, and present when needed? Is leadership diversified, and present when needed? Does the administration exemplify authoritative (and Does the administration exemplify authoritative (and not authoritarian) leadership? Do team leaders or not authoritarian) leadership? Do team leaders or others participate in a school leadership council?others participate in a school leadership council?

Successful Schools in Successful Schools in Action Action

Use a Curriculum that is Relevant, Challenging,

Integrative, and Exploratory.

A curriculum grounded in rigorous, public A curriculum grounded in rigorous, public academic standards…academic standards…

Standards give us the destination. We are Standards give us the destination. We are responsible for the quality and success of the responsible for the quality and success of the journey.journey.

Use Standards to design Curriculum Use Standards to design Curriculum that:that:

Focuses on the BIG ideasFocuses on the BIG ideas

Encompasses critical skillsEncompasses critical skills

Fosters habits of the mindFosters habits of the mind

Produces life-long learnersProduces life-long learners

A curriculum…relevant to the concerns A curriculum…relevant to the concerns of adolescents and based on how of adolescents and based on how

students learn best.students learn best.

Brain Research - students remember when Brain Research - students remember when learning has personal relevance and makes an learning has personal relevance and makes an emotional connection.emotional connection.

Build connections between students and the Build connections between students and the disciplines, the current world, and the future.disciplines, the current world, and the future.

Understand the developmental needs of young Understand the developmental needs of young adolescents.adolescents.

Build upon prior knowledge - create brains of Build upon prior knowledge - create brains of Velcro, not Teflon.Velcro, not Teflon.

Informal checks for Informal checks for understandingunderstanding

Traditional quizzes and testsTraditional quizzes and tests Interviews, questionnaires, Interviews, questionnaires,

and conferencesand conferences Performance tasks and Performance tasks and

projectsprojects Authentic in nature -- Authentic in nature --

simulations, debates, simulations, debates, exhibitions, position papers, exhibitions, position papers, scientific experiments, scientific experiments, research projects, portfoliosresearch projects, portfolios

Assessment and evaluation promotes quality Assessment and evaluation promotes quality learning.learning.

Questions for ReflectionQuestions for Reflection

Are teachers knowledgeable about each Are teachers knowledgeable about each individual learner, and do they use information individual learner, and do they use information about each to make decisions about curriculum, about each to make decisions about curriculum, instruction, and assessment?instruction, and assessment?

Are varied ways to assess student progress Are varied ways to assess student progress used? Are exemplars of quality work and scoring used? Are exemplars of quality work and scoring guides used?guides used?

Does the organization of the school facilitate Does the organization of the school facilitate curriculum integration? Flexible use of time? curriculum integration? Flexible use of time? Varied student groupings? Common planning Varied student groupings? Common planning time?time?

Successful Schools in Successful Schools in Action Action

Use multiple learning and teaching

approaches that respond to their

diversity

Instructional methods designed to Instructional methods designed to prepare prepare all all students to achieve higher students to achieve higher

standards and become lifelong learners.standards and become lifelong learners.

Techniques based on the developmental Techniques based on the developmental and learning characteristics of young and learning characteristics of young adolescentsadolescents

Accommodates the diverse skills, Accommodates the diverse skills, abilities, and knowledge of young abilities, and knowledge of young adolescentsadolescents

Takes into account multiple Takes into account multiple intelligences, individual learning styles, intelligences, individual learning styles, and the students’ cultural, experiential, and the students’ cultural, experiential, and personal backgrounds.and personal backgrounds.

Instructional methods….Instructional methods….

Engaging and interactive - hands-on experiences and Engaging and interactive - hands-on experiences and active involvementactive involvement

Varied approaches to direct instruction - experiments, Varied approaches to direct instruction - experiments, demonstrations, opinion polls, simulations, independent demonstrations, opinion polls, simulations, independent study.study.

Collaborative and cooperative in natureCollaborative and cooperative in nature Flexible in nature (groups, time, settings, etc)Flexible in nature (groups, time, settings, etc) Differentiated to account for individual differencesDifferentiated to account for individual differences Technology is integrated Technology is integrated Investigative, exploratory, and examines new ideasInvestigative, exploratory, and examines new ideas

Questions for ReflectionQuestions for Reflection

If you were to do a walk through of the If you were to do a walk through of the classrooms in your school, how many types of classrooms in your school, how many types of instructional methods would you observe?instructional methods would you observe?

Is technology being used regularly as a learning Is technology being used regularly as a learning tool in the academic curriculum, giving students tool in the academic curriculum, giving students opportunities to access knowledge when opportunities to access knowledge when needed?needed?

Does your staff have the ability to engage both Does your staff have the ability to engage both themselves and their students in active learning?themselves and their students in active learning?

Resources for ReformResources for Reform

Professional Development KitProfessional Development Kit

Understanding and Implementing Understanding and Implementing This We BelieveThis We Believe -- First Steps -- First Steps

By John Lounsbury and Ed BrazeeBy John Lounsbury and Ed Brazee

NMSA, 2004NMSA, 2004

This We Believe: Successful Schools for Young AdolescentsThis We Believe: Successful Schools for Young Adolescents

NMSA, 2003NMSA, 2003

Research and Resources in Support of Research and Resources in Support of This We BelieveThis We Believe

NMSA, 2003NMSA, 2003

Resources for ReformResources for Reform

A National Study of Leadership in Middle A National Study of Leadership in Middle Level Schools: Volume 1Level Schools: Volume 1

By Jerry Valentine, Donald Clark, Donald By Jerry Valentine, Donald Clark, Donald Hackmann, and Vicki PetzkoHackmann, and Vicki Petzko

NASSP 2002NASSP 2002

Leadership for Highly Successful Middle Leadership for Highly Successful Middle Level Schools: Volume 2Level Schools: Volume 2

By Jerry Valentine, Donald Clark, Donald By Jerry Valentine, Donald Clark, Donald Hackmann, and Vicki PetzkoHackmann, and Vicki Petzko

NASSP 2004NASSP 2004

This I BelieveThis I Believe

A copy may be downloaded at www.nmsa.org

This I BelieveThis I Believe

I have I have chosenchosen to be a middle level to be a middle level educator, for I recognize that the years of educator, for I recognize that the years of early adolescence are pivotal and abound early adolescence are pivotal and abound with individual potential and opportunity. with individual potential and opportunity. Therefore, I will care for these students Therefore, I will care for these students personally, listen to their voices, respect personally, listen to their voices, respect their concerns, and engage them in their concerns, and engage them in meaningful educational experiences that meaningful educational experiences that will prepare them for a promising future.will prepare them for a promising future.

I believe that every young adolescent...I believe that every young adolescent...

••has the capacity to learn, grow, and develop into a knowledgeable, has the capacity to learn, grow, and develop into a knowledgeable, reflective, caring, ethical, and contributing citizen. reflective, caring, ethical, and contributing citizen.

••must have access to the very best programs and practices a school must have access to the very best programs and practices a school can offer. can offer.

••must be engaged in learning that is relevant, challenging, integrative, must be engaged in learning that is relevant, challenging, integrative, and exploratory.and exploratory.

• •thrives academically, socially, and emotionally in a democratic thrives academically, socially, and emotionally in a democratic learning environment where trust and respect are paramount and learning environment where trust and respect are paramount and where family and community are actively involved. where family and community are actively involved.

••faces significant life choices and needs support in making wise and faces significant life choices and needs support in making wise and healthy decisions. healthy decisions.

••deserves educators who are prepared to work with this age group, deserves educators who are prepared to work with this age group, who are themselves lifelong learners and committed to their own who are themselves lifelong learners and committed to their own ongoing professional development and growth. ongoing professional development and growth.

I believe that every young adolescent...I believe that every young adolescent...

••has the capacity to learn, grow, and develop into a knowledgeable, has the capacity to learn, grow, and develop into a knowledgeable, reflective, caring, ethical, and contributing citizen. reflective, caring, ethical, and contributing citizen.

••must have access to the very best programs and practices a school must have access to the very best programs and practices a school can offer. can offer.

••must be engaged in learning that is relevant, challenging, integrative, must be engaged in learning that is relevant, challenging, integrative, and exploratory.and exploratory.

• •thrives academically, socially, and emotionally in a democratic thrives academically, socially, and emotionally in a democratic learning environment where trust and respect are paramount and learning environment where trust and respect are paramount and where family and community are actively involved. where family and community are actively involved.

••faces significant life choices and needs support in making wise and faces significant life choices and needs support in making wise and healthy decisions. healthy decisions.

••deserves educators who are prepared to work with this age group, deserves educators who are prepared to work with this age group, who are themselves lifelong learners and committed to their own who are themselves lifelong learners and committed to their own ongoing professional development and growth. ongoing professional development and growth.

Therefore, I proudly dedicate myself to becoming the best middle level Therefore, I proudly dedicate myself to becoming the best middle level

educator I can be and an active advocate for all young adolescents.educator I can be and an active advocate for all young adolescents.